Mariano Puerta drew comfort from simply being back at the top after losing the French Open final to Rafael Nadal. The Argentine battled back to form on the second-tier Challenger circuit after a drugs ban and is delighted to be playing with the tennis elite again.
"I may not have won the tournament but it is just fantastic for me to be here" said Puerta.
"I lost to an excellent player. Rafael brought out the best in me. He's the best player in the world on clay."
The 26-year-old was banned for having taken the banned substance clenbuterol for an asthma attack in 2003.
"I gave it everything I had," he said. "When I went off the court, I knew I had lost against the best player in the world on clay.
"What could I do? He moves so well, he runs so fast.
"I'm very happy and very proud of what I did during these past two weeks.
"I didn't win the match, but I won a fight against myself which was very difficult. I have to be objective. I must be happy."
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